narrative

[nar-uh-tiv]

noun

1. a story or account of events, experiences, or the like, whether true or fictitious.

   Synonyms: tale, chronicle

2. a book, literary work, etc., containing such a story.

3. the art, technique, or process of narrating, or of telling a story.

   Somerset Maugham was a master of narrative.

4. a story that connects and explains a carefully selected set of supposedly true events, experiences, or the like, intended to support a particular viewpoint or thesis.

   to rewrite the prevailing narrative about masculinity; the narrative that our public schools are failing.

adjective

1. consisting of or being a narrative.

   a narrative poem.

2. of or relating to narration, or the telling of a story.

   My English teacher's narrative skill makes characters seem to come to life.

3. Fine Arts.,  representing stories or events pictorially or sculpturally.

   narrative painting.

narrative

/ ˈnærətɪv /

noun

1. an account, report, or story, as of events, experiences, etc

2. the part of a literary work that relates events

3. the process or technique of narrating

adjective

1. telling a story

   a narrative poem

2. of or relating to narration

   narrative art

Other Word Forms

• narratively adverb
• nonnarrative adjective
• seminarrative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of narrative¹

First recorded in 1445–55; from Middle French narratif (adjective and noun), from Late Latin narrātīvus “narration” (noun), “suitable for narration” (adjective), from narrāt(us) “related, told” (past participle of narrāre “to relate, tell, say”) + -īvus, adjective suffix; equivalent to narrate ( def. ) + -ive ( def. )

Synonym Study

Narrative, account, recital, history are terms for a story of an event or events. Narrative is the general term (for a story long or short; of past, present, or future; factual or imagined; told for any purpose; and with or without much detail). The other three terms apply primarily to factual stories of time already past. An account is usually told informally, often for entertainment, with emphasis on details of action, whether about an incident or a series of happenings. A recital is an extended narrative usually with an informative purpose, emphasizing accuracy and exhaustive details of facts and figures. A history, usually written and at some length, is characterized by a tracing of causes and effects, and by an attempt to estimate, evaluate, and interpret facts.

Example Sentences

Some see Weiss as likely to tamp down coverage of Gaza or to emphasize narratives that align with the Israeli government’s ideology.

From Salon

Jilly Cooper knew how to keep her reader hooked, weaving together a bewildering variety of characters and constantly switching the narrative.

From BBC

"Usually the opposition would have longer but the government collapse in popularity has happened so quickly it has sharpened focus on needing to have an alternative narrative," one Tory MP, first elected in 2024, said.

From BBC

Shifts in demand, and how mochilas are sold, have raised concerns about control over the bags' design, narrative, and profits.

From BBC

But if that were the case, a cogent narrative could make that point just as well as the facts about Kerr that appear on screen at the end of the film.

From Salon

Related Words

• account 
• anecdote 
• book 
• chronicle 
• chronology 
• description 
• detail 
• fiction 
• history 
• narration 
• plot 
• version